The 10 Best Books For Little Introverts

This article first appeared on QuietRev.com

One of the wonderful things about raising introverts is that there are lots of books for every age range that totally get it. Herman Melville’s 1853 Bartleby, the Scrivener has a main character with an infamous line that is arguably the best capture of the introvert experience: “I would prefer not to.” Not that he can’t or won’t, but that he’d rather not. There are introverts like myself who interact with large groups of people for work, and then there are others who are shy and feel totally awkward. There are some who like reading, and then there are those who are into computer games, knitting, or some other solo activity. We may all have vastly different preferences, but the thing that connects all introverts is that we all periodically must say “no, thanks” because we relish our quiet time.    

As Papa to an ambivert 6-year-old and a 2-year-old who is still figuring it out, I am always on the lookout for books that offer an alternative narrative to what our culture tells them is true. Adventurers don’t always have to be loud and constantly surrounded by people. Nerds can solve crimes quietly.

Books are magical portals, and no matter what kind of kid you have—introvert, ambivert, or extrovert—the 10 fictional books listed below for 8-12-year-olds will thrill them: